Where to stay in Abu Dhabi: the best areas and hotels

Saadiyat Island pairs some of the best beaches in the Gulf with the Louvre Abu Dhabi, whose vast latticed dome seems to float above the water. The beach itself is a long, natural sweep of soft white sand where turtles are known to nest, and the resorts are low-rise and spread out, so it feels calm and spacious.

Resorts are polished and expansive: a St. Regis with three pools and a private beach, a Jumeirah resort with three outdoor pools and five restaurants, a family-friendly all-inclusive Rixos on the white sands, and a Park Hyatt on the beach within ten minutes' drive of the Louvre and the Corniche. Ideal for couples and anyone who wants culture with their sunbathing.

Yas Island is Abu Dhabi's playground. Ferrari World has some of the fastest roller coasters on the planet, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. World are next door, and the Yas Marina Circuit hosts the Formula 1 season finale. There's also a links golf course, a beach and a huge mall, and the airport is only about ten minutes away.

Many hotels here include access to the theme parks with every stay, which can make them excellent value for families. Choose the world's first Warner Bros.-themed hotel, a waterfront Hilton with a private beach, the striking W Abu Dhabi that straddles the F1 track, or a relaxed Yas Plaza hotel sharing pools, a beach and kids' clubs with its neighbours.

The Corniche is Abu Dhabi's handsome front: eight kilometres of palm-lined promenade, cycle paths, parks and Blue Flag city beaches, backed by gleaming towers. Qasr Al Hosn, the city's oldest fort, is a few blocks inland, and at the western end stands the gold-and-marble Emirates Palace, a landmark in its own right.

This is the place for a classic city stay. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is the grand old dame; the Conrad in the Etihad Towers sits between the sea and the fashionable Corniche; a St. Regis offers a private beach just steps from the promenade; and a Sofitel has sweeping views over the Gulf and the skyline. Everything is a short taxi ride away.

Just across a narrow channel from downtown, Al Maryah Island is Abu Dhabi's newest business district, home to the Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Galleria mall and a waterfront promenade lined with restaurants. Across the water, the older downtown streets around Abu Dhabi Mall are busier and more down to earth.

Hotels are some of the city's smartest: a Four Seasons a few minutes from Abu Dhabi Mall and a Rosewood with Gulf and skyline views in a 34-storey tower. On the downtown side, the waterfront Beach Rotana has an infinity pool and private beach, and Le Méridien a private beach within a short walk of Abu Dhabi Mall.

Where Abu Dhabi island meets the mainland, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque rises in a vision of white marble domes, minarets and reflecting pools, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and open to visitors. Around it, a cluster of resorts lines the canal and the strait, handy for both the city and the airport.

A Fairmont on the beach looks straight across to the mosque, a Shangri-La sits on a long private beach between two bridges, and a Ritz-Carlton lines the Grand Canal with two pools and a private beach. Nearby, the Andaz occupies the Capital Gate, the world's most inclined man-made tower, five minutes' drive from the mosque.

Abu Dhabi's wild side is spectacular. Deep in the Liwa Desert, on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world, resorts sit among towering dunes, with camel treks, falconry, sand surfing and 4x4 safaris on the doorstep. Out in the Gulf, Sir Bani Yas Island is a nature reserve where wildlife roams free.

Stay at the fortress-like Qasr Al Sarab, about 194 km from the airport, at a resort among the Empty Quarter dunes, or at the Al Wathba desert resort and spa, closer to the city. On Sir Bani Yas, reached by boat or seaplane, a resort wraps around an infinity pool in walled tropical gardens. Two nights is ideal.